One Horsemanship for all.: September 2011

I've told a few friends that I am starting this blog...and there's interest. So I must make a commitment. Not only to myself, but to my horses and my continued learning.

The other day Moo and I were talking on the phone and she was telling me about this amazing book that a friend of hers had written. It was about her personal experience studying the tango: an open- or closed-embrace lead-and-follow dance that, at the highest levels, is a beautiful thing to behold. In tango, the "lead" is responsible for choosing the steps and for leading the "follow" by hand pressure and signals to complete the steps smoothly. She was explaining the author's role as a student and how learning to tango eventually crossed over into teaching her about life as well. Now, I haven't read the book but the concept piqued my interest, especially since I have been in a discipline of horsemanship that is constantly being compared to a dance...and crosses over into life.

In Acton last week, I got a taste of the dance. It was Sunday, the last day of Paul Dietz's horsemanship clinic. Jake and I had a nice day on Saturday...some of the best riding I had experienced on the big lug in a clinic setting. So, Sunday, I really felt that Jake and I were jiving (OK, bad comparison, since jive is a dance)....we were in sync with each other through the morning's riding.

Paul asked the class to pass by him doing a great drill in which the rider sends the horse's hindquarters to the left 180 degrees and then the front quarters the to right 180 degrees. This maneuver, when complete, results in the rider continuing down the arena in the same direction after completing what non-horse-savvy observers might think was just a "spin" or a 360 degree turn.

As Jake and I passed Paul, we completed our HQ to the left 180, FQ to the right 180 and Paul's comment was "good."

I beamed inside. I agreed...I thought it was good. It felt smooth...not forced. Jake was pretty responsive and I was happy with it.

On our second pass, I slid down my right rein, bent Jake's head toward my right knee, untracked his hindquarters to the left 180 degrees. I opened my right hand allowing room for Jake's right shoulder to open up to the right and he stepped about 90 degrees with his right front leg. Continuing with the movement, Jake took a small step from his left front leg to balance himself ahead of completing the last sweeping step to the right. But I had doubt. I quickly came in with my left leg to his side. This caused Jake's head to shoot up and he quickly stumbled across the front and we continued down the rail.

"You rushed it." Paul said.

"I know."

After the rest of the class completed their turns, Paul called us in for a meeting. He gave everyone in the class come critiques about what they could do to get it better.

When Paul got to me, he said "Suzanne."

(pause) .... what's he going to say??? (There was a moment of worry)

And as if he were a dance instructor, Paul rhythmically said:

"One. two. three. four. five. six. seven. eight...." With each number, he tapped the palm of his hand to the horn cap of his saddle.

After another brief pause, he said, again tapping the horn cap, "One. two. three. four. five. six. seven. eight...."

I nodded. Those eight words were crystal clear. I realized I tripped my dance partner by coming in with a swift leg kick to rush the maneuver. If I was leading properly, he would have followed. Looking back, if I had left it alone, trusting my lead, we would have been fine. But I came in with an unwarranted leg to push my dance partner along and we lost all rhythm with that simple mistake.

And we learn from our mistakes.

So the good news (who am I kidding, it is all good news!) is through all my trials and tribulations with Jake (and one very special moment with a very special Junior last spring), I am learning what I should be looking for...what I should be waiting for...what I should be feeling for...and what I should search for as I begin a new commitment with Drifter.

This evening, after an off day at work, I came home and saddled my little yellow horse. Drifter gave me a little bit of work at the start...but as I learned at the Ray Hunt Memorial Clinic: you go with your colt until he can go with you. And here I am at ride #6 and I have my patience and I have trust in what I have been learning. So I am going to work with Drifter until he can settle a bit and continue to allow me to reward the smallest change and the slightest try.